Holding Relay where we want

It is time to put our foot down to University Heights. I have always subscribed to the idea that the city would not be able to sustain itself without the University, so maybe we shouldn’t be as willing to comply with some of their requests as we are. I understand being a cooperative and helpful neighbor. At Relay For Life, however, I am not as accommodating. Every year we have to move indoors during our Relay because of a city code that says we cannot be making such a ruckus so late at night. Well, John Carroll, it’s time to break a few rules.

The people in charge of Relay, and the Relay participants, do a fantastic job; it’s a great event that raises a great deal of money for cancer research. I say we should Relay wherever we want for a night.

What’s the worst thing that could happen? I highly doubt the University gets cited for a noise violation during Relay. If we do, send the ticket to me – I won’t pay it. I hope they cuff me – a picture of me in the silver bracelets will play really well for the city in The Plain Dealer.

It has always seemed a little ridiculous to me that the city tries to push around the University the way they do. I understand that residents of the city want a peaceful neighborhood where they aren’t woken up by loud students coming home from a party, however, I don’t have a terrible amount of sympathy for them.

Here’s some insight, University Heights: You moved next to a college. You’re surprised that college students party or that its football team wants to have games under the lights? If that’s the case, I’m guessing you either went to Grove City College or you were the RA who treated your job like you’re in the military. Everyone really likes that RA.

In an effort to keep tensions low, the University tries to be a good neighbor and concedes a great deal of authority to the city, but we shouldn’t for Relay. If neighbors of the University can’t sleep one night out of the year because most of the students have decided to take time out of their incredibly busy schedules to raise money for cancer research, I say “good.” Come join Relay, maybe we can make more money.

Due to a law passed last year, I paid $4 to the state of Ohio and $18 to the city of University Heights in income tax. That seems a little backwards to me and is simply another example, in a long list of examples, showing that University Heights is “out to get” John Carroll.

The city refuses to admit the positives that the University brings to this community. We do a significant amount of community service both in the Cleveland and world communities; we pay way too much in income tax; and we pay a significant amount of sales tax on all the beer we buy. I don’t think the city would be able to go on without the financial support we bring.

Next year, let’s just say, “screw it – arrest me” to the city. We can be as good, or as bad, as the city wants us to be, but I don’t think we should budge one inch on where we hold our Relay For Life. It is far too good of a cause, and we already do far too much to make this city happy.